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Michigan

#42 of 50 states · 🫤 Rough

#42of 50
Michigan among U.S. states
D−48
🫤 Rough
🏆 Renttop 30%
🚽 Jobsbottom 19%
Rolled up from 153 ranked cities · 4,524,545 residents
Taxes
6.00% sales · US 7.00%4.25% flat income · US 4.63%

City heat map

Every ranked city — bubble size = population, color = how it ranks within Michigan. Tap a bubble for its card.

Best-ranked in MichiganWorst-ranked

Color is each city's rank within Michigan — not its national score. Hover or open a bubble for that, or see every city on one scale on the national map.

The breakdown — worst first

Unemployment rate19

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of the labor force out of work.

Property-tax burden26

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Violent crime rate28

Population-weighted average across 150 Michigan cities

Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Poor mental health29

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking34

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of adults who currently smoke.

Air quality (AQI)35

Population-weighted average across 118 Michigan cities

Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air.

Population growth (5yr)36

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Median household income36

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate36

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Property crime rate38

Population-weighted average across 150 Michigan cities

Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Adult obesity38

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Income inequality43

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Natural disaster risk43

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more.

Broadband access44

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Physical inactivity44

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Homeownership46

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Bachelor's degree or higher47

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unhealthy air days51

Population-weighted average across 118 Michigan cities

Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100).

Commute time57

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Uninsured adults64

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Housing cost70

Population-weighted average across 153 Michigan cities

Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent70

Population-weighted average across 87 Michigan cities

Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

See all Michigan cities →

Michigan's headline score is the population-weighted average of its cities' scores, placed on a curve relative to the other states — a bird's-eye, states-vs-states ranking. The breakdown bars above are the absolute, per-metric rollup across its cities of 5,000+ residents. The heat map colors each city by its rank within Michigan(greenest = best here); the city lists below show each city's national score.